Food cravings and energy regulation: the characteristics of craved foods and their relationship with eating behaviors and weight change during 6 months of dietary energy restriction

Abstract

Objective: To examine characteristics of craved foods in relation to dietary energy restriction (ER) with high (HG) and low glycemic load (LG) diets. Design: Assessments of food cravings before and during a randomized controlled trial of HG and LG diets provided for 6 months. Subjects: Thirty-two healthy, overweight women aged 20-42 years. Measurements: Self-reported food cravings and dietary intake, body weight, weight history and measures of eating behaviors. Results: Foods craved at baseline were more than twice as high in energy density as the habitual diet (3.771.5 vs 1.770.3 kcal/ g; Po0.001), and on average were lower in protein (Po0.001) and fiber (Po0.001) and higher in fat (P ¼ 0.002). There were no statistically significant changes in nutritional characteristics of craved foods after 6 months of ER. There was a significant relationship between reported portion size of craved food consumed at baseline and lifetime high body mass index (r ¼ 0.49, P ¼ 0.005). Additionally, there was a significant association between susceptibility to hunger and craving frequency at baseline, and there were significant relationships between hunger score, craving frequency, strength and percentage of time that cravings are given in to after 6 months of ER. In multiple regression models, subjects who lost a greater percentage of weight craved higher energy-dense foods at month 6 of ER, but also reported giving in to food cravings less frequently (adjusted R 2 ¼ 0.31, P ¼ 0.009). Conclusion: High energy density and fat content, and low protein and fiber contents were identifying characteristics of craved foods. The relationships between craving variables and hunger score suggest that the relative influence of hunger susceptibility on cravings may be important before and especially after ER. Portion size of craved foods and frequency of giving in to food cravings appear to be important areas for focus in lifestyle modification programs for long-term weight loss.

Food and Mood: Just-in-Time Support for Emotional Eating

“…Gilhooly et. al characterized these responses as "instinctive" in that at some point these behaviors may have served a survival function [8]. Stress releases hormones, which trigger a fight or flight response; thus, grabbing high-energy, available foods (like the sugary donut) would be effective for energy production.…”

The three factor eating questionnaire - R21: tradução para o português e aplicação em mulheres brasileiras

“…Diversos são os estudos que tentaram identificar a influência das emoções no consumo alimentar 5,6,[10][11][12][13] . O humor e as emoções podem influenciar a escolha dos alimentos, da mesma forma que o consumo de certos alimentos pode alterar o humor ou o estado emocional.…”

“…Esse dado vai ao encontro de estudos experimentais que apontam que a restrição alimentar pode ser desinibida em casos de estresse ou emoções negativas, como sentir-se entediado, deprimido, ansioso, triste ou tenso 6,[11][12][13]15 . Em contrapartida, quando as escalas de restrição e de alimentação emocional são analisadas separadamente, esta última constitui um melhor indicador de alimentação induzida pelo estresse.…”

“…O descontrole alimentar é caracterizado pela perda do autocontrole e consumo exagerado de alimentos, com ou sem a presença de fome ou necessidade orgânica 12 . Sugere-se que a presença dos alimentos e os estímulos sensoriais aumentam as chances de ingestão e descontrole alimentar, tanto em situações de fome quanto em situações de saciedade, indicando que o consumo alimentar nem sempre depende do estado metabólico 13 .…”

“…Recentemente, tem-se relacionado a monotonia alimentar ao descontrole 17 , embora isso ainda possa ser contestado 18 . A consequência mais provável do descontrole alimentar é o aumento de peso e de gordura corporal 12 .…”